Students Versus Shadow Beasts

'If we could hold them back long enough, he might make it.' The cloaked man thought as he slaughtered two peak rank second-stage shadow beasts and injured an early rank third-stage shadow beast with one blow.

Right after he did so, four shadow beasts appeared around him and pounced on him.

Although it looked like the shadow beasts were no match for the mage, this was only true in a one-on-one battle. Even though it seemed like he would be having things easy, the truth was actually far from that. The majority of the monsters weren't his match in a duel, but the same couldn't be said about the four mid-rank third-stage monsters, especially when they were ganging up on him.

Shadow beasts were usually one rank ahead of other monsters, but this was in terms of attack proficiency and not in essence. Take, for instance, the attacking power and skills of a shadow beast at the early rank of the third-stage Guardian realm enabled it to contend with monsters at the mid-rank of the same stage and realm. However, their body and energy still weren't up to that level. This meant that while their attacking power was at the level of a mid-rank third-stage Guardian monster, their defensive ability as well as their other strengths, were still at the original level; the early rank of the third-stage Guardian realm.

It was due to this reason, as well as his skills as an academy guardian[1], that the cloaked man could take on four of them, albeit barely. However, he would be unable to provide any further assistance to the students.

. . .

"Emma, keep our teammates safe. I will go up ahead." Wendel said before charging towards the centre just like Asher.

There were twenty-seven monsters present at the moment but Wendel wasn't worried about his team. Only the early rank third-stage Guardian shadow beasts would be troublesome to handle but as long as Emma was there and the group followed her instructions, they would be fine. Also, there were thirteen other students present so they wouldn't be the full focus on the horde.

'I'm going to figure out whatever the heck you are plotting.'

Emma followed Wendel's commands and took the charge of the group of six (seven if you include her). At the same time, Lawrence's team, which was the closest to them, attacked the monsters. On the other side were the other team and Asher's group, under the command of Owen.

There were ten early rank third-stage Guardian shadow beasts but one of them had been seriously injured by the cloaked man's attack, forcefully dropping its level to that of a mid-rank second-stage Guardian shadow beats or worse. As for the other nine, they were the major priority for the groups as well as the real threat at the moment. However, the only ones capable of handling such creatures were Owen and Emma.

"We need a strategy." Owen said.

"We need to take down the easy guys as quickly as possible." Noah said.

"Oi, princess[2]. Work with me here!" Owen spoke to Melissa as he charged toward the approaching monsters.

The current twenty-seven monsters had divided into four groups to take on the four teams. Four of them headed for Lawrence's team of three, of which one was a peak rank second-stage Guardian shadow beast while the remaining three were one early rank second-stage and two peak rank first-stage Guardian shadow beasts.

Despite being outnumbered 4:3, Lawrence's team was capable of handling the monsters after all, apart from Lawrence himself, his teammates weren't pushovers. With Lawrence handling the peak rank second-stage Guardian shadow beats, the next strongest was of the early rank of the same stage and this wasn't a problem. As long the other two eliminated the weakest monsters first -the peak first sage Guardian shadow beasts-, victory would be in sight.

The other team of six members faced one early rank third-stage, one mid-rank second-stage, two early rank second-stage, and two peak rank first-stage Guardian shadow beasts. Unlike, Lawrence's team, they weren't outnumbered but they faced a tougher challenge in the form of the third-stage Guardian beast, though it was at the early rank.

While they could rely on their treasures to hold on, this was merely a delay tactic. The presence of the third-stage Guardian shadow beast[3] alone shifted the balance against them and if help wasn't provided soon, they would all be dead.

Emma's team had things even worse. They faced one early rank and two mid-rank second-stage Guardian shadow beasts, with the weakest monster on the roster being a peak rank first-stage Guardian shadow beast. As for the strongest, there was not one but three early rank third-stage Guardian shadow beasts. Emma predicted that they could only hold on for a minute or so, but definitely not two.

On the good side though, one of the third-stage Guardian shadow beasts was the injured one so you could say that they were facing only two shadow beasts truly at that stage.

If Emma's team was experiencing the worst-case scenario, then Asher's team, under the command of Owen, was experiencing the second-worst-case scenario.

Two early rank third-stage Guardian shadow beasts, two mid-rank, and two early rank second-stage Guardian shadow beasts took on the team of five. Not only were they outnumbered but they were also outmatched, albeit the gap wasn't as disastrous as with Emma's team and their opponents.

As for the remaining early rank third-stage Guardian shadow beasts which numbered four, they went after Wendel and Asher; two for each.

'I need to be fast.' Asher thought as he saw that his team was in trouble.

Although he hoped for them to get stronger through battles, this was already beyond the tolerance limit for the team.

'I only need fifteen seconds.' Asher estimated.

Even as he was having this thought, one of the third-stage Guardian shadow beasts appeared in front of him using a spell technique Asher was already familiar with called shadow travel.

To the monster, it believed that its ambush was a success, but Asher was already on guard.

"Ice spear." Asher coldly muttered as he pointed his arm at it.

An ice spear, too short to be called a spear, but shaped like one, shot out from his palm and impaled the shadow beast. Its eyes widened in shock as the force of the spear shoved it aside but it wasn't dead.

Even till now, Asher was aware that he was under scrutiny so showing off the ability to one-shot a third-stage Guardian shadow beast was not a wise move. Even during his journey through the tunnel, he had only shown that he had the ability to handle one just like Wendel and Emma, albeit somewhat easier.

'I can't kill you so soon but immobilizing you isn't a problem.' Asher thought as he dashed past the monster.

As for the ice spear impaled into its body, ice tendrils drilled from it into the body of the shadow beast spreading intense frost into it. This forced the monster to slow down in its movement and prevent it from catching up to Asher.

When Asher was just thirty metres away, the last shadow beast had arrived but just like its predecessor, it could do nothing to slow him down.

Within just five seconds from that, Asher was now before the altar.